On May 31, 2023, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) revealed classified documents exposing the Petrochemical Commercial Company International (PCCI), a key organization within the Iranian regime. These documents, obtained from the opposition Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), shed light on PCCI’s use of oil and petrochemical activities to bypass sanctions and finance the regime’s aggression and repression.
These documents show that the facilities of this organization, which is under the control of the regime’s Armed Forces, specifically the IRGC, are clearly used to finance the regime’s belligerence and terrorism abroad and repression at home.
PCCI, established in 2000, evades oil and petrochemical sanctions by creating branches and companies outside Iran, particularly in countries not under sanctions. It utilizes the resulting financial gains to advance the regime’s policies abroad. PCCI operates as a subsidiary of Ghadir Investment Holding, owned by Iran’s Social Security Organization of the Armed Forces (SATA), under the supervision of Brigadier General Mustafa Najjar.
The US government sanctioned PCCI in 2011, leading the regime to transfer the company to Labuan Island in Malaysia. PCCI’s activities include selling crude oil allocated to the Armed Forces General Staff, trading Venezuelan oil, exporting urea to Yemen, and fulfilling international orders for the Ministry of Defense.
PCCI’s business plan for the Iranian year 1402 (March 2023 to March 2024) emphasizes its role in civilian commercial interactions of the ministries of defense and armed forces, as well as its presence in countries facing security, economic, and sanctions challenges. Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and other nations are among its target markets.
The revenue generated by PCCI is not only used to fund terrorism and support regional proxies, but also to strengthen state security forces and suppress dissent within Iran. The exposed documents demonstrate PCCI’s pivotal role in circumventing sanctions and financing illicit activities.
The West’s policy of appeasement has emboldened the Iranian regime to flout sanctions, escalate its nuclear weapons program, and perpetuate its terror network. Each dollar that reaches the regime enables terrorism, violence, and domestic oppression. It is crucial for the United States and other Western nations to take a firm stance against the regime, reinforcing U.N. Security Council resolutions and supporting the Iranian people’s aspirations for a free and democratic future.
